Auburn's homes and network
Ausgrid, not Endeavour
Further west than many people expect for Ausgrid, but its checker lists Ausgrid for 2144. Fault line: 13 13 88.
Early houses
Auburn grew from subdivisions near the station after the railway opened in 1855, and 200 new buildings went up in 1911 alone.
Strata from the 1960s
The Housing Commission planned an initial 83 houses after the war, but the 1961 Strata Title Act had the bigger impact, permitting multi-unit blocks.
Today's mix
Separate houses 42.0%, flats 47.3%, townhouses or semis 10.0%.
Renters
Of occupied homes, 49.9% were rented, 23.3% mortgaged and 21.7% owned outright.
Inside an older Auburn walk-up
Blocks from the 1960s and 1970s were wired for a fridge, a few lights and not much else. Today's units run air conditioning, induction cooktops and dryers, often on the original circuits.
If the board in your unit has fuses or no safety switches, upgrading it is usually the first job. The meters and main supply sit on common property, so anything there goes through the strata manager.
Landlords, note that a NSW rental must have enough electricity outlets for lighting, heating and appliances, and adequate lighting in each room apart from storage rooms and garages.
Signs a unit is outgrowing its wiring
- Breakers or fuses that go when two appliances run together.
- Power points or switch plates that feel warm or look discoloured.
- Lights that dim when the air conditioner kicks in.
- Power boards plugged into power boards because there aren't enough points.
- A burning smell you can't trace. If there's smoke or fire, call 000.
What we'd do in Auburn
In an older unit, have the board and kitchen circuits checked before adding a big appliance. Landlords, do it between tenants, when there's easy access and nobody's waiting on an urgent repair.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.